Bhubaneswar : Defending champions Ranchi Rays took a big step towards the semi-finals as they inflicted a second successive defeat on Kalinga Lancers 3-2 in the Hockey India League (HIL) at the Kalinga Stadium here on Monday.
Mohammad Khan scored the winner in the 49th minute with a field goal, counted as two. Lancers took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter with Dharamvir Singh’s tap-in before Ashley Jackson reduced the difference to one with a successful penalty corner conversion.
Amir’s back-hand strike gave the visitors the lead that they managed to hang on till the end as they registered their fourth win in the last five matches. Ranchi’s win pushed Lancers to second position with 23 points from eight matches while the defending champions secured the top slot with 27 points.
Eyeing to edge out each other, Lancers and Rays played aggressively from the beginning. Touted as the eastern derby, Rays had defeated Lancers at home in the edition last week and it was time for Lancers to level it in their final match at home. They opened their account when Dharamvir come up with an early strike and smashed the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Tyler Lovell. However, Rays bounced back immediately and earned a penalty corner which was brilliantly capitalised on by skipper Jackson. Both the teams scored in the first quarter. But the host team were leading by 2-1, courtesy the new rules introduced in the tournament.
The defending champions and host team tried hard to find the net throughout the second quarter as their strikers opened a couple of chances. But, the defenders of both the teams denied every attempt.
